The Times History of the War: Austria-Hungary, July 1914-November 1916

Austria-Hungary, July 1914-November 1916

This week's chapter explores the meaning of the war for the Austro-Hungarian state, the German Austrians and the war, the Magyars, the Austrian poles, the subject nationalities and the war, the Yugo-Slaves, the Czecho-Slovaks, the Little Russians, schemes of centralisation and Germanisation, reconstruction of the Austrian cabinet, propaganda in favour of Central European Union, the Magyars, Austrian centralism and Mittel-Europa, the Polish question, demand for reassembling parliament, the death of the Emperor Francis Joseph 1

The German Austrians greeted the outbreak of war with almost hilarious excitement. War, at last! No more tiring discussions or wranglings with the Czechs and Jugo-Slavs, but short, sharp orders. The Germans were to be masters in Austria once more

Phantoms of starving Serbia december 2, 1916

Punitive expeditions, both Austrian and Bulgarian have failed to intimidate the raiders, and the enemy has long since learned not to provoke them

“Tell our brothers at Salonika to make haste, for Serbia is at her last gasp!”

This message has been brought direct from Old Serbia by a special correspondent of the Paris Journal, who, greatly daring, rowed across the Danube by night from the Rumanian shore and landed in occupied territory. On the farther shore he and his companion found awaiting them a score of haggard figures, in ragged uniforms and armed.
These were Serbian officers and soldiers, survivors of last year’s Serbian Army; a handful of the heroic 10,000 guerrilla troops who, fugitives in their own land, have taken to the mountains and harry the enemy when opportunity offers. On one occasion they made a descent upon an occupied town and put the Austrian garrison to flight. Punitive expeditions, both Austrian and Bulgarian have failed to intimidate the raiders, and the enemy has long since learned not to provoke them.

One day a Serbian general landed in their midst from a French aeroplane and heartened them. They are the soul of the surviving population and the oppressed country’s one link with freedom.
With these phantoms of Old Serbia grouped about him, the correspondent conversed with one of their leaders, a captain wounded in the great retreat 12 months ago. He spoke of the nameless atrocities committed by the enemy in the early days of the occupation, of the massacres, and of the famine to which the country was succumbing. Stocks of food which were estimated to be enough to last the whole population for two years had immediately been commandeered with the most pitiless thoroughness. In particular, thousands of pigs had been driven off by the Germans.

The whole of this season’s harvest had also been requisitioned, so that by the end of the year the people would be starving. Destitution was boundless, and children were dying wholesale for want of food. Conditions were worse in the towns than in the country, and many persons committed suicide in order to end their sufferings.
And to all this is to be added the moral and religious persecution at which the Bulgarians in particular have proved themselves such adepts.

Rumania at war, the first shots August 29, 1916

At last the decisive hour has struck. Events have dictated to the Government intervention and the realization of Rumanian national claims. The King, in view of recent events, has, like the late King Carol, convoked a Crown Council

Rumania has entered the war. After a fateful Crown Council at Bukarest on Sunday morning, the Rumanian Minister in Vienna informed the Austrian Government that Rumania would consider itself to be in a state of war with Austria-Hungary from 9 o’clock that evening. The same night the Rumanian frontier forces surprised the Austro-Hungarian troops in the Transylvanian Passes, where fighting is now in progress.

Germany in her turn has declared war against Rumania.
RUMANIA’S CHALLENGE. ABUSE FROM BERLIN.
The successive steps by which Rumania finds herself in a state of war with Austria-Hungary and Germany are set forth in the following message from Amsterdam:- AMSTERDAM, Aug. 28. A Vienna telegram states that last night the Rumanian Minister in Vienna visited the Austro-Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in order to present a Note, according to which Rumania, as from August 27, at 9 o’clock in the evening, considered herself in a state of war with Austria-Hungary. The German Federal Council has been summoned for an immediate sitting. LATER. Germany has declared war on Rumania. The official notification of Germany’s declaration of war on Rumania, telegraphed here from Berlin, says: “Rumania, after having, as already reported, disgracefully broken the treaties she had concluded with Austria-Hungary and Germany, declared war yesterday on our Ally. The German Minister to Rumania has received instructions to demand his passports and to declare to the Rumanian Government that Germany considers herself also at war with Rumania.”

This morning’s editions of the Cologne Gazette, published before the announcement of Rumania’s decision, contained a telegram from Bukarest which said that: “Apart from the activities of the war party, there are many indications that the situation will continue as hitherto.” Reuter.

THE COUNCIL. BUKAREST, Aug 26. The Crown Council consists of 19 members, of whom, according to indications, four, or six at most, will declare themselves against intervention and for the maintenance of neutrality. The journal Adeverul says: At last the decisive hour has struck. Events have dictated to the Government intervention and the realization of Rumanian national claims. The King, in view of recent events, has, like the late King Carol, convoked a Crown Council. Politicians when they Ieave the Council will have to bow before its decision. A union of all parties must be effected before the greatness of the cause.
CONCENTRATION COMPLETE. The concentration of the Rumanian forces was almost completed before the Mobilization Decree was issued. The authorities are dismissing all alien employees, many of whom are Germans. There were a specially large number of the latter employed in the technical services. Reuter.
THREE COGENT REASONS TO SHORTEN THE WAR. GENEVA, Aug. 28. A telegram from Vienna says that the Rumanian Minister in Vienna visited the Austro-Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday evening and formally announced the declaration of war. At the same time the Rumanian Minister presented a long document setting forth all the grievances of the Rumanians against Austria-Hungary, such as the persecutions of and acts of violence against Rumanian subjects in Austria-Hungary. The document next alludes to the agreements which formerly existed between Rumania and the Powers of the Triple Alliance, and declares that these compacts ceased to exist from the day on which the war of aggression declared by Germany and Austria-Hungary broke the Triple Alliance by obliging Italy to withdraw from it.
The declaration then sets forth the reasons which dictated the decision of Rumania to enter the war. These are:
1. Anxiety for the Rumanian population in Austria-Hungary, which is exposed not only to the risks of war, but also to those of invasion.
2. Rumania by her intervention believes that she will shorten the duration of the world war.
3. Rumania takes her place by the side of those Powers which can most effectively assist her to realize her national, ideal.
Although the Press had for several days been preparing public opinion in Austria to face the eventuality of a rupture with Rumania, the news of the Rumanian declaration of war came as a shock and caused the most painful excitement in all quarters in Vienna. Reuter.
RUMANIAN SURPRISE ATTACK. THE BID FOR TRANSYLVANIA. Yesterday’s Austrian communique, as transmitted by the Wireless Press, describes in the following terms the opening of hostilities on the frontier of Hungary and Rumania - ARMY FRONT OF CAVALRY GENERAL THE ARCHDUKE KARL. On the south-eastern and eastern frontier Passes of Hungary our new enemy, Rumania, exchanged the first shots last night with our frontier posts in a treacherous surprise attack at the Roter Turm Pass; and in the Passes to the south-west and south of Brasso (Kronstadt) advanced guards entered into combat on both sides early this morning, and the first Rumanian prisoners were taken.
*The Roter Turm Pass gives access to Hermannstadt, and Kronstadt is reached through the Predeal Pass. These two passes are among the five principal gates leading across the Eastern Carpathians into Hungarian territory.

Francis Joseph's last hours NOVEMBER 23, 1916

Towards the evening he ate a plate of strong soup and a piece of chicken. His weakness then increased so much that towards six he asked to he taken to bed

In our later editions yesterday we announced the death of the Emperor Francis Joseph, which took place at Schönbrunn on Tuesday evening at 9 o’clock. The death of the Austrian Emperor appears to have come as a sudden blow to the population of Vienna. His constitution had survived so many moral and physical shocks that the population of the once gayest city in Europe seems hardly to have credited the news when at last it came. It was not until 11pm that the news of the Monarch’s death spread in public places and paralyzed the population. Instantly song and dance ceased everywhere.

His Majesty continued his usual mode of life and occupations right up to yesterday; but he overtaxed his powers, persisting, in spite of a rising temperature and an irritating cough, in receiving the usual daily reports. He also gave long audiences during which he spoke a good deal. Since Saturday his appetite had decreased. On that day his Majesty drank as a tonic a glass of strong white wine and two small glasses of champagne, and smoked his usual cigar. The last few nights were disturbed by the irritating cough, but his doctors were reassured by his good heart action and regular breathing.

Even yesterday the Emperor worked during the day, although he was fatigued and run down. He received the Archduke Friedrich, the Commander-in-Chief, in an audience lasting three-quarters of an hour. On Monday evening for the first time he went to bed earlier than usual. A Vienna telegram states that he got up yesterday with a high fever and felt very faint. He had a cup of tea and two slices of ham and at 8 o’clock a glass of sour milk. At lunch he ate almost nothing. Towards the evening he ate a plate of strong soup and a piece of chicken. His weakness then increased so much that towards six he asked to he taken to bed.
His body physician, Dr Kerzl, and Professor Ortner did not leave the Monarch. The Emperor lay quietly. The Archduchess Marie Valérie and his granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth von Windisch-Graetz, came frequently to the bedside. Between 8 and 9 the doctors found that a speedy end was imminent. The Court chaplain, Dr Seidl, administered Extreme Unction in the presence of the members of the Emperor’s family who had in the meantime been summoned.